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Selfishness
We were getting in the car to come home after our Maundy Thursday worship service when a young man came into the parking lot looking for a ride. One of his friends was supposed to pick him up and didn’t show up or answer his phone.
What I should have done was immediately said, “Sure!” But, no, several things went through my mind, all of them excuses and ways to push him off on someone else.
But God made sure that at that time there was nobody else in the parking lot. There were many cars, and people had been leaving about the same time we were, but none of them were to be seen. So, we gave him a ride (not a big ordeal, since it was on the way home anyway) and managed to talk with him a little bit about what differentiates our faith from others. He’s been investigating various religions, but hasn’t been satisfied.
While we didn’t have the opportunity to fully share the gospel with him, we did have the opportunity to show him a small taste of the love of Christ. He indicated that he may visit our church sometime, so we might see him again. I hope God uses this small example to draw him to himself. He’s used it to show me just how selfish I usually am, that my first instinct when faced with a situation like this was to find a way to get out of it.
Posted by
fitzage on 04/08 at 05:25 PM •
Theology
Comments
Along these same lines, an article on <span class="caps">CNN</span> got me thinking recently about what Jesus instructed us to do to show we’re Christians and what the American Christian mindset is. While I don’t agree with the obvious political bias of the article, the main point is true: since when are abortion and homosexuality the only issues Christians care about? What happened to helping the poor and widows? To showing love no matter what? To being people of peace instead of troublemakers?
I would’ve liked the article to point out that abortion and homosexuality are wrong, but take it for what it is. Your post reminded me of that. While many Christians see no problem with casually mentioning that they won’t visit certain parts of town because of the black people or hispanics, Christ taught us to love others as ourselves.
Praise God that you were able to overcome any excuses and take the opportunity to serve! I wish I could say I would’ve done the same.
Posted by nathan on 04/08 at 08:38 PM
Good point. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking along those lines lately.
Jesus hung out with the dregs of society at the time, to reach them. He also saved his harshest words for those who had the appearance of religion, but were really whitewashed sepulchers.
Posted by
fitzage on 04/08 at 10:39 PM
Recently some of the ladies at church were discussing the story of the good Samaritan and how we need to follow his example yet still be smart/safe about it. I pointed out that there are ways to safely help someone, but there are also times when God leads you to do something that could be considered unsafe. I decided that this was one of those times even though it was an inconvenience (I’d planned on stopping at Walmart and we forgot to stop at the gas station).
Posted by on 04/08 at 11:04 PM
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